A
acclou03
Junior member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2026
- Messages
- 3
- Location
- usa
Backstory: 2013 I went to the dentist and was told I had gum disease and needed a deep cleaning. I went through with it, but the hygienist was incredibly mean and told me that if I didn't stay regular my "teeth would all fall out in my 30s". So, I was 22 and avoidant, and never went back. I never had issues, so I forgot about it, never went to the dentist, and lived my life. I was also pretty depressed, so I wasn't taking care of myself for a long time.
Fast forward to 2023- I've got a job I like, I've mostly come out of my depression, and the health anxiety starts kicking in about everything I've ignored. I remembered her omen: your teeth will fall out in your 30s- and I panicked. I spent three awful, painful years full of dread but too scared to make an appointment. I was afraid every time I ate, thinking a tooth would just fall out. I could see cavities on my teeth, awful staining, and badly receding gums. I went through countless cycles of making appointments and then never getting the courage to go.
On Sunday night, I was at home and trying to look forward to a week off of work, but I couldn't stop googling gum disease, denture costs, painless abscess, oral cancer, if my TMJ could be a jaw infection, 10mm perio pockets- the works. I finally couldn't take it anymore and wanted to enjoy my life again.
I called the office up the street from me, explained my situation, and they said they had a cancellation the next day. Screw it, I thought. If I'm going to lose all of my teeth and my jaw I want to at least know and make a plan. I was shaking and crying all morning, but through the support of my friends, I worked up the courage to walk through the door. I felt strangely calm in the waiting room, because taking the control back felt so nice.
When I got back to the room, I told the hygienist everything and she was so incredibly kind and understanding. She took quite a few x rays, and then I did feel the dread waiting to hear the inevitable: you'll lose all of your teeth.
What she said was "you've got some long roots! these teeth are in here tight"
I was flabbergasted. She measured my pockets and did a mobility test- 0 mobility, and 4-5mm pockets.
Then, the dentist came in- when I told her what the other hygienist said she laughed and said "no way! you're nowhere close to tooth loss". Again, I was in shock. The final plan- two deep cleanings, and 4 fillings. No extractions or root canals.
When I say if I can do it anyone can, I mean that. I used to read posts where people said "I went and it wasn't as much work as I was expecting" and thought "well, that's great for them but there's absolutely no way that will be the case for me". And yet, it was.
Even if you think there's no hope, I promise you will feel so much better after going. I never ever thought I would be typing this, and that eventually all my teeth would just fall out. Now, I have a plan, and can enjoy things without this fear hanging over my head. I let that woman's voice destroy my mental health for years, and I regret not going 3 years ago when the worry began. If you're afraid, I promise you can do it- and you will feel so much better than you ever thought possible.
Fast forward to 2023- I've got a job I like, I've mostly come out of my depression, and the health anxiety starts kicking in about everything I've ignored. I remembered her omen: your teeth will fall out in your 30s- and I panicked. I spent three awful, painful years full of dread but too scared to make an appointment. I was afraid every time I ate, thinking a tooth would just fall out. I could see cavities on my teeth, awful staining, and badly receding gums. I went through countless cycles of making appointments and then never getting the courage to go.
On Sunday night, I was at home and trying to look forward to a week off of work, but I couldn't stop googling gum disease, denture costs, painless abscess, oral cancer, if my TMJ could be a jaw infection, 10mm perio pockets- the works. I finally couldn't take it anymore and wanted to enjoy my life again.
I called the office up the street from me, explained my situation, and they said they had a cancellation the next day. Screw it, I thought. If I'm going to lose all of my teeth and my jaw I want to at least know and make a plan. I was shaking and crying all morning, but through the support of my friends, I worked up the courage to walk through the door. I felt strangely calm in the waiting room, because taking the control back felt so nice.
When I got back to the room, I told the hygienist everything and she was so incredibly kind and understanding. She took quite a few x rays, and then I did feel the dread waiting to hear the inevitable: you'll lose all of your teeth.
What she said was "you've got some long roots! these teeth are in here tight"
I was flabbergasted. She measured my pockets and did a mobility test- 0 mobility, and 4-5mm pockets.
Then, the dentist came in- when I told her what the other hygienist said she laughed and said "no way! you're nowhere close to tooth loss". Again, I was in shock. The final plan- two deep cleanings, and 4 fillings. No extractions or root canals.
When I say if I can do it anyone can, I mean that. I used to read posts where people said "I went and it wasn't as much work as I was expecting" and thought "well, that's great for them but there's absolutely no way that will be the case for me". And yet, it was.
Even if you think there's no hope, I promise you will feel so much better after going. I never ever thought I would be typing this, and that eventually all my teeth would just fall out. Now, I have a plan, and can enjoy things without this fear hanging over my head. I let that woman's voice destroy my mental health for years, and I regret not going 3 years ago when the worry began. If you're afraid, I promise you can do it- and you will feel so much better than you ever thought possible.